Chapter 11

Skipper woke up suddenly, startled from his nightmare. Well, that is a first; I've never been scared of anything enough before to have a nightmare. He couldn't help but shiver at the thought of Private laying dead in a gutter somewhere. "Stop it" he chided himself, "I'm just being paranoid again, he's probably fine", but Skipper couldn't wipe the horrible thoughts from his mind.

Private woke up late; surprised he hadn't been woken by Kowalski. He sat up, at first confused as to why he had slept on the floor, but then it all started coming back. He sat up, peering around for Kowalski. He saw no sign of the older and hesitantly stood up, noticing the HQ was eerily empty and quiet. He turned on the TV to distract himself, but he just couldn't concentrate. I kind of want to see Skipper. He shut the TV off, happy with his idea. He bounded out of HQ, once again happy to see Skipper. He slowed to a walk when he reached outside the penguin habitat. Something doesn't feel right; it feels creepy... as if someone is watching me... Private looked up at the sunny sky, it was a beautiful cheery day, what could happen? He whipped around as he heard movement from a garbage can and laughed at himself. "Look at me; I'm becoming as paranoid as Skippah." He saw the park in the distance and picked up his pace. Out of nowhere, Private was tackled to the ground. He let out a screech as he saw Kowalski's face flash before him and the elder's flipper covered his beak, causing the younger to pass out from lack of oxygen.

Private awoke around dusk, sprawled on the floor of the HQ. He coughed and breathed air into his lungs. Air, beautiful, wonderful air.

Kowalski heard the younger cough and turned around wickedly. "Good, your awake, now I wont feel bad about beating the crap out of you, apparently you didn't learn your lesson you little piece of scum!" he punched Private, smashing him against the wall. Private felt his left flipper bend behind him and smash against the wall. He cried out in pain as his flipper bent in an awkward way. It hung useless by his side, a burning searing to match the pain in his heart.

Kowalski reached a flipper up, inching towards the younger's neck and Private struggled for air. "You piece of shit! I said you will listen to me or die!" This was the last Private heard as everything went black.

"Goddamnit" Skipper muttered, cursing himself for caring so much. However, he couldn't stop worrying, it wasn't like Private, he would have come to see me, wouldn't he? He tried to erase pictures of a dead Private from his mind, but it didn't work. "Ah! Curse you stupid invisible barrier! What if Private needs my help? I hate you!" he shouted, pounding his fists against the barrier, but felt nothing there. What? His beak opened in shock as he fell into the zoo. "What the deuce?" he shouted, shocked to say the least. He walked back and forth over the barrier multiple times, feeling freer each time he walked back into the zoo. He looked around warily. But who? How? It's just gone! He took a deep breath; happy he was free but knowing he should be on his guard. That can't happen, a wall just doesn't disappear, somebody or something removed it, and it sure had heck wasn't me... He quickly began walking his natural path, back to HQ, hoping that Private was all right and he was stupid for being so paranoid.

He didn't just open the hatch and fling himself in, even in his state he knew that would be stupid. Instead, he swam down into the water and peered in. The sight he saw made him numb. He couldn't believe it, Private lay in a corner battered and beaten, while Kowalski continued to beat the younger mercilessly. Private! He felt anger he never felt before and ripped open the hatch to HQ. "YOU MONSTER! NOBODY HURTS MY PRIVATE!" he raged, filled with hate and anger he never knew existed. He flew onto Kowalski, knocking him against the wall and wanting to murder him for hurting sweet innocent Private. Kowalski may have been a good fighter, but he was no match for Skippers feelings bubbling up into pure rage. He wanted to wrap his flipper around the scientist's neck and watch his face drain of all life. He resisted the killing urge and instead knocked him out cold, kicking him like the piece of dirt he was. He quickly gathered Private, who was drifting in and out of conscience, in his flippers, scrambling out of HQ. He noticed Rico in a corner and motioned for him to follow.

He ran to the park, wanting to get Private as far away as he could from Kowalski. His eyes filled with tears at the thought that anybody would hurt the sweet penguin. He felt Privates heart beat faintly against his own and felt the tears he was holding back escape. He sat down gently at the base of a tree, still cradling the injured Private in his arms. If there's anybody up there, God or whatever, anybody, please let him live, please! I'll give anything! I just want him to live...you can even take me, just please, not Private... he pulled the little penguin closer, inspecting his injuries. "God Private" he muttered aloud, looking at what Kowalski had done. He gently stood up and placed the younger back against the grass. He noticed Rico laying a few feet away, "Rico? Are you okay?" he asked, feeling bad for forgetting about him, but he realized it was a stupid question when he looked at him. Private wasn't the only one who needed medical attention. "Can you stay with Private, please. I really don't want to leave you guys alone but you need medical supplies."

Rico nodded solemnly and Skipper helped him limp over to the younger. "I'll be back," he promised, looking at the younger once again and feeling emptiness in his heart. He turned away and ran to HQ, seeking anything that would help.

Luckily, Kowalski was still out cold when Skipper entered. He felt a bit guilty at first, but he remembered what the scientist had done to Private and erased any guilt in his mind. He frantically walked around the lab, picking up anything that looked the least bit helpful. He gathered what he could find in his arms and hurried out, resisting the urge to cause Kowalski more pain. Private's more important, I can deal with Kowalski later.

He rushed back to the park as fast as he could, dropping the medical supplies at Private's feet. He gingerly knelt down, not entirely confident of himself. The leader had very little medical knowledge, that was more of Kowalski thing. He handed some supplies to Rico, knowing that he would be embarrassed if he were offered help.

Skipper fixed up the younger as best as he could, even making a splint for the broken flipper. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.

He hugged the younger again, wanting to hold him, feeling like he needed to protect him. He impulsively kissed Private on the cheek, and blushed furiously. How the hell is that going to help stupid?

He sighed as he lay down, knowing being sleep deprived wouldn't help any. He laid the younger down on a bed of leaves and wrapped a flipper around him protectively. Private's head lay on the leader's chest; the younger's breath tickling the older. Skipper smiled faintly, he might even have laughed if the situation wasn't so dire. He pulled him closer, hoping to be a source of heat for the younger. He can't die!

"You cant die!" He said determinedly. "I mean, your a fighter right? You can't just give up..." Life without Private... He couldn't imagine it, never hearing his adorable accent, never seeing him smile again. Heck! I'd even love to hear some of his Lunacorn garbage right now. Life without Private, well, it wouldn't be much of a life, bleak, miserable, nothing... "You can't give up, I need you. There, I said it, I need you okay? Yes, I will admit it, I am relying on someone again, caring more than I should, is that what you wanted to hear? I need you Private!" he shouted to the sky, burying his face in the younger's feathers, feeling the tears come again. "I need you Private, you can't leave me, you got to make it, I love you Private, you can't leave me," he whispered into the younger's feathers, only wishing Private could hear him.